Party-line ringing system.



A. E. LUNDELL. PARTY LINE RINGING SYSTEM.

4APPLICATION FILED JUNE I?. |916. 1,284,730. f Patented Nov. 12,1918.

4 SHEETS-Suter 2.

//7 Ven/0k A/en E. Lande/ A. E. LUNDELL. PARTY LINE RINGING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 11. 1916.

1,284,730. PatentedN0v.12,1918.

4 SHVEETS-SHEET 3.

Y -Aff'y Patented Nov. 12, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Af E. LUNDELL. PARTY LINE RINGING SYSTEM. APPLICATION. FILED JUNE I7. I9I6.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBEN E. LUNDELL, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK. i

PARTY-LINE RINGING SYSTEM.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 12, 1918.

Application led .Tune 17, 1916. Serial No. 104,233.

To aZZ whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, ALBEN E. LUNDELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of Bronx and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Party -Line Ringing Systems, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

This invention relates to a signaling system for a telephone exchange system in which automatic switches are employed wholly or in part for the purpose of establishing a connection between the calling and the called line, and relates more particularly to a system of this character in which some of the telephone lines are party lines and other'telephone lines are direct lines, each line, whether it is a party ,line or a direct line, appearing in the terminals 0f selector switches, there being in either case one set of terminals per line.

It is an object of the present Iinvention to provide means for signaling either a direct line or any party upon a party line, which object is attained by means of a selecting device which automatically selects andapplies to the terminals of the line the character of current required either to selectively signal one party upon a party line or to signal a party upon a direct line.

In accordance with a feature of the present invention, a signaling current selecting device is associated with a group selector. It has heretofore been proposed to provide at a connecting switch a device for the purpose of selecting the proper character of current for party, line signaling, but the present invention provides an improvement over this arrangement, for the reason that in a system of this character the connector switches are greater in number than the group selectors, and as the signaling-current selecting device is associated with the group selector, such devices are therefore less in number than would be the case if they were associated with the connector switches. so that this arrangement results in considerable saving of apparatus.

In accordance with another feature of this invention, apparatus normally associated with the group selector and operating in connection therewith during the establishment of the connection. is afterward used -as a ringing-current selector. In accordance with this feature of the invention,

the ordinary sequence switch at the group selector is used after the connection has been established as a rin ing-current selector. Other features of t e invention, not especially referred to above, will more clearly appear in the detailed description and the claims.'

yIn the accompanying drawings, the system is diagrammatically shown in Figures l, 2, 3 and 4. Fig. 1 should be Placed at theleft of Fig. 2; Fig. 3 at the right of Fig. 2 and Fig. 4 immediately below Fig. 2,

in order to show the complete system.

As is more clearly indicated in Fig. 3, there is provided in a connector switch a set of three terminals for each line. These terminals may be connected as is indicated in Fig. 3 to a party line upon which there are four parties. Other sets of terminals may also be connected to direct lines upon which there is only one party.

The inventionwill be best understood by a description of the operation of establishing a connection, and signaling first a party on a direct line and then one of four parties on a four-party line.

In order to avoid needless repetition, especially when tracing the' various circuits, the sequence switch contact springs will be referred to merely as contacts, andthe position of such' contactv will be indicated in parentheses. Also it is thought that the circuits can be traced with sufficient clearness by referring to the relays and contacts included in such circuits, so that the conductors have not been indicated by reference numerals.

In Fig. 1, the sequence switch contacts, individual to the sender sequence switch, are inclosed together with the motor magnet of such sequence switch in a broken line rectangle.

Then the subscriber removes his receiver from its hook, the line relay 104 will be operated in the usual manner, causing the line lamp 105 to be displayed. The operator inserts the plu 106 into the jack 107, whereby the cutoff re'ay 102 and the relay 101 Vare energized over a circuit which may be traced from battery, relay 102. sleeve of jack, sleeve of the plug, .relay 101 to ground. As a result of the energization of relay 101, a circuit is established from battery. motor magnet of sequence switch 100. through contact 10S (position 1), front contact and armature of relay 101 to ground, causing sequence switch 100 to move from position 1 to position 11. As sequence switch 100 passes posin tion 2, a circuit is established at contact 109 (position 2) from battery, through motor magnet of sequence switch 150, contact 152 (position 1), contact 109 (position 2), to ground. Sequence switch 150 thereupon movesI to position 4. The operator inquires the number of the desired line, and assuming, first, that the desired line is not a party line but a direct line, the operator will set up the designation of such line upon the keys of her register-controlling equipment, corresponding to the digits of the desired line, and will also operate the first key 160 of a group of keys which control the signaling @t either direct or party lines. The registercontrolling equipment is not shown in detail and the ordinary number keys are not showne as the operation and construction of such registering and controlling equipment is well known. Sending equipment suitable foreperation with the present system is disclosed in applicants Patent No. 1,168,319, issued January 18, 1016. A counting relay set indicated at 0 to 5 and 0 to 5 is shown in Fig'. 1, and the keys 160 to 164, five in number, which control the ringing either of a direct line or one of the four-party lines, are also shown. The arrangement is such,

will more clearly appear from the detailed description, that when the rst key 160 is depressed, ringing current of the character required to signal a direct line is irnpressed upon the called line after a connection has been established, or when either of the keys 161 to 164 is depressed, ringing current of the character required to signal the desired party line is impressed upon the terminals of the line after the connection has been established.

In Fig. 1, the first group selector is merely indicated by the brushes 110, 111 and 112 and the terminals 113, 114l and 115. This first group selector may be of any wellknown type, and may be arranged to operate in the well-known manner under the control of the operators registering and controlling equipment to extend a connection to the second group selector shown in Fig. 2. The operation'of the rst group selector will not be described in detail, and it will be assumed that such selector has operated in position 2 of the sender sequence switch 150, and thatsuch sequence switch has moved to position 4.

Vith the sender sequence switch 150 in position 4, a fundamental circuit to the second group selector is established. This circuit may be traced as follows: from battery. relay 402. contact 405 (position 1), contact 206 (position 1). terminal 113, brush 110, contact 116 (position 11), armature and back contact of counting relay 0', stepping relay rasaaao 151, contact 153 (position 4), contact 117 (position 11), brush 111, terminal 114, contact 406 (position 1), to ground. Relays 402 and 151 are energized in this circuit. '1`he operation of relay 402 at this time establishes a circuit from battery, motor magnet of sequence switch 200, contact 20?Y (position 1), contact 407 (position 1), outer armature and front contact of relay 402, to grouiul. Sequence switch 200' thereupon mores from position 1 t0 position 4, and in position 4 thereof a circuit is established for the up-drive magnet 201 of the second group selector, from battery, magnet 201, contact 207 (position 4), contact 407 (position 1), outer armature and front contact of relay 402, to ground. lflfhen Vsequence switch 200 leaves position 1 the original energizing circuit of relay 402 is broken at contact 200, but this relay is maintained energized over a locking circuit extending from grounded battery, winding of relay 402, contact 405 (position 1), inner armature and front contact of relay 402, contact 410 (position 1), terminal 113, and brush 110 to ground, over the path previosuly described. The brush carriage of the group selector begins its upward movement. As the brush carriage moves upward, the grounded brush 208 passes over the commutator segment 209, and through contact 206 (position 4) closes a shunt circuit about relay 151, intermittently shunting such relay. As relay 151 intermittently operates, counting relays, which are at this time controlled by the set position of the registers (not shown), operate, and when the last counting relay 0 is energized, the fundamental circuit is opened and the relays 151 and 402 are denergized. The brush-tripping spindle is now operated in the usual manner, and the brush set,v individual to the group of trunks in which the desired line is to be found, is tripped, also in the usual manner. As a result of the operation of the counting relay 0', a circuit is closed from battery, through motor magnet of sequence switch 150, Contact 152 (position 4), right-hand armature and front contact of counting relay 0 to ground, which causes sequence switch 150 to move from position 4 into position 10. The denergization of the relay 402 establishes a circuit from battery, through motor magnet of sequence switch 200, contact 210 (position 4). contact 409 (position 1), outer armature and back contact ot relay 402, to ground. Sequence switch 200 thereupon moves into position 5.

In position 5 of the sequence switch 200, a circuit is established for test relay 202, from battery', left-hand winding of relay 202. contact 211 (position 5), to ground. Relay 202 energizes over the circuit just traced and closes a circl.1'it.from battery, through the motor magnet of sequenceswitch 200, contact 213 (position 5), lefthand armature and front contact of relay 202, to ground, whereupon sequence switch 200 leaves position 5 and moves into position 6.

In position 6 of the sequence switch, a circuit is established for the up-drive magnet 201 from battery, magnet 201, contact 212 (position 6), left-hand armature and front contact of relay 202 to ground, whereupon the brush carriage is started for the purpose of selecting an idle trunk line leading to a connector switch. During this movement of the switch, the rela-y 202 is maintained energized over either of two circuits, one of which may be traced from battery, through the left-hand winding of relay 202, contact 211 (posit-ion 6), commutator segments 214, brush 215 to ground, or from battery, right-hand winding of relay 202, front contact and armature thereof,

brush 216 and test terminals 217 of busy trunk lines. The first circuit maintains the relay 202 energized while the test brush 216 is passing between the terminals 217. lVhen a terminal 217, upon which there is no ground, indicating that the trunk line individual thereto is idle, is reached by the brush 216, neither of the above traced zircuits for the relay7 202 will be closed, as the brush 215 at this time will be between two commutator segments. Relay 202 will thereupon be denergized. As a result of the deenergization of relay 202, a circuit will be established 'for the motor magnet of the sequence switch 200, from battery, through motor magnet of sequence switch 200, contact 213 (position 6) left-hand armature and back contact of relay 202 to ground. Sequence switch 200 will move from position 6 to position 9. p

As a sender sequence switch 150 is now in position 10 and the sequence switch 200 is'in position 9, the fundamental circuit is reestablished, which circuit may be traced from battery, relay 402, contact 405 (position 1), contact 206 (position 9), terminal 113, brush 110, contact 116 (position 11), armature and back contact of counting relay 0, stepping relay 151, contact 153 (position 10), contact 117 (position 11), brush 111, terminal `114, contact 406 (position 1), to ground. Relays 402 and 151 will be energized over this circuit. As a result ofthe energization `of relay 402, a circuit will be closed for `the motor magnet ofsequenc-e switch 200, vfrom battery, motor magnet of sequence switch 200, contact 207 (position 9), contact 407 (position l), outer armature and front contact of relay 402 to ground. Sequence switch 200 moves from position 9 to position `10.

Relay 402 being` energized, the sequence switch 200 being in position 10, a circuit is closed for the relay 301 from battery, relay 301, contact 304 (position 1), terminal 218, brush 219, contact 207 (position 10), contact 407 (position 1), outer armature and front contact of relay 402 to ground. Thereupon relay 301 closes a substitute circuit for itself from battery, through relay 301 and its right-hand armature and front contact, contact 304 (positions 1 to 6), and thence over the circuit previously traced. As a result of the energization of relay 301, a circuit is closed from battery through relay 303, armature and front contact of relay 301 to ground. Relay 303 when operated closes at its richt-hand armature al locking circuit from battery, through relay 303, right-hand armature and front contact of relay 303, terminal 217, brush 216, right-hand armature and back contact of relay 202, contact .229 (position 10), t0 grOllld- Relay 303 also closes at its left armature a circuit from battery, through motor magnet of sequence switch 300, contact 305 (position 1), front contact and left-hand armature of relay 303, to ground. Sequence switch 300 moves from position 1 to position 6.

In position 6 of sequence switch 300, a circuit is closed for the up-drive magnet 302 of the connector switch, from battery, through magnet 302, contact 306 (position 6), right armature and front contact of relay 301, contact 304 (position 6),.terminal 218, brush 219, contact 207 (position 10), Contact 407 (position 1), outer armature and front contact of relay 402, to ground.

In order to simplify the disclosure, the connector switch is shown to be a singlemovement switch, which may select one out of ten lines or a hundred lines. It will be understood, however, that in practice the connector switchis of the usual construction and two movements are provided, the first of which is for the purpose of selecting the tens digit, and the second of which is for the purpose of 'selecting the units digit of the desired line. Both of these movements, in practice, will be controlled in the usual manner from the counting relays, which are in turn controlled from the registering and cont-rolling equipment which has been set by the operator. It will be sufficient, for the purpose of describing the present invention, to assume that the selection of the `desired line will take place when the fundamental circuit is Aestablished in position 10 of the sender sequence switch 150, position -11 of the squence switch 100, position 10 of the sequence switch 200, and position 6 ofthe `sequence switch 300.

tact 309 (position 6), contact 310 (position 6), terminal 220, brush 221, Contact 206 (position 10), contact 410 (position 1) inner armature and front contact of relay 402, contact 405 (position 1), relay 402, to the other side of battery and ground. Therefore, asrthe brush carriage moves over the line terminals, relay 151 will be' intermittently denergized until the last counting relay 0 is energized,

at which time the fundamental circuit is opened, causing the denergization of relays 402 and 151. The denergization of the relay 402 opens the circuit Previously traced for the up-drive magnet 302 of the connector switch, stopping the connector with the brushes thereof in contact with the terminals of the desired line. As a result of the deenergization of relay 402, a circuit is closed for the Amotor magnet of sequence switch 200,

from battery, through the motor magnet of sequence switch 200, contact 210 (position 10), contact 409, (position 1), outer armature and back contact of relay 402 to ground, whereupon sequence switch 200 moves from position 10 into position 11. The energizing circuit for relay 301, previously traced, is opened upon the denergization of relay 402, thereby' causinglrelay 301 to release its armatures. As a result of the release of relay 301, a circuit isclosed for the motor magnet of sequence switch 300, from battery, through the motor magnet of sequence switch 300, contact 311 (position 6), lefthand armature and back contact of relay 301, to ground. Sequence switch 300 thereupon moves from position 6 to 16. In the intermediate positions between positions 6 and 16, the usual operations of testing to see whether the called line is busy, placing the busy signal on the calling line provided the line is busy, and restoration if the called line is busy, takes place. These operations will take place in the 'usual manner and will not be described in detail. The manner in which these operations take place is preferablyv similar to that described in Patent No. 1,212,809, issued January 16, 1917, to F. N. Reeves and A. E. Lundell. Having connected the desired line and tested, and having found such line idle, the operation of sequence switch 200 will determine the character of the ringing current to be placed on the terminals of the line in a mannerwhich will now be described.

l It has been assumed that the connection being established is to a direct line and not to a party line, and that the key 160 has been depressed to control the signaling of a direct line.

With sequence switch 150 in position 12, sequence switch 100 in position 11, sequence switch 200 in position 11 and sequence switch 400 in position 1, a fundamental circuit is established from battery, relay 402,

contact 405 (position 1), Contact 206 (position 11), terminal 113, brush 110, contact 116 (position 11), armature and back contact of counting relay 0, relay 151, contact 153 (position 12), contact 117 (position 11), brush 111, terminal 114, contact 406 (position 1), 70 to ground.

The stepping relay 151 and the relay 402 are energized through this circuit. The energization of relay 402 at this time, with the sequence switch 200 in position 11, closes a circuit for the sequence switch motor magnet 200, which may be traced from battery, sequence switch magnet 200, contact 207 (position 11), contact 407 (position 1), outer armature and front contact of relay 402, to ground. The sequence switch 200 begins to rotate. As soon as the relay 402 is energized an alternative circuit for such relay is closed from battery, relay 402, contact 405 (position 1), inner armature and front contact of 85 relay 402, contact 410 (position 1), terminal 113, brush 110, contact 116 (position 11), left-hand armature and back contact of counting relay 0, stepping relay 151, contact 153 (position 12), contact 117 (position 90 11), brush 111, terminal 114, contact 406 (position 1), to ground. As the sequence switch 200 rotates through the intermediate or half position between 11 and 17, a ground is placed upon the tip side of the line at contact 206 (position 111g, 1243, 13%, 14%, 1542, 1642), which shunts the stepping relay 151, such contact performing the same function as the commutator of the ordinary selector switch. In the case assumed, as soon as relay 151 pulled up when the fundamental circuit was established, a circuit was closed for the No. 0 counting relay from battery, counting relay 0, operated key 160,

contact 154, (position 12), front Contact and armature of relay 151, to ground. The counting relay 0 energizes, and when the relay 151 energizes in response to the closing of contact 206 in position 1192, the relay 0 will be energized over a circuit which may be traced from battery, through relay 0, 0, armature and contact of 0, contact 155 (position 12), to ground. Relay 0 thereupon operates and opens the fundamental circuit previously traced. The opening of the funda- 115 mental circuit denergizes relay 402, which closes a circuit for the motor magnet of sequence switch 400 from battery, motor magnet of sequence switch 400, contact 411 (position 1), contact 210 (position 12), contact 120 409 (position 1), the right-hand armature and contact of relay 402, to ground.

Also the denergization of the relay 402 opens the circuit previously traced for sequence switch 200, which stops in position 125 12. At the same time the counting relay 0', when energized, closes at its right-hand armature a circuit from battery through the motor magnet of sequence switch 150, contact 152 (position 12), right-hand armature 130 and front contact of counting relay 0', to ground. The sequence switch 150 thereupon moves from position 12 back to normal. 1n passing through position 13, sequence switch 150 closes contact 156, thus establishing a circuit frombattery, through the motor magnet of sequence switch 100, contact 108 (position 11), contact 156 (position 13), to ground. Sequence switch 100 thereupon moves to position 16.

In position 16 of sequence switch 100, and in position 2 of the sequence switch 400 a circuit is closed for the relay 401 from battery, through contact 412 (position 2), upper left-hand winding of the repeating coil 413, terminal 113, brush 110, contact 116 (position 16), upper right-hand winding of the repeating coil 118, to ground. e energization of relay 401 establishes a circuit from battery, motor magnet of sequence switch 400,v

contact-411 (position 2), armature and front contact of relay 401, to ground. Sequencev switch 400 thereupon moves from positionl 2 to position 15.

l'n positions 4 to 15 of the sequence switch 400, contact 414 is closed, thereby establishing'a circuit from battery, through contact 414 (positions 4 to 15), contact 222 (position 12), relay 403, armature and back contact of relay 203, armature and back contact yof relay 204, to ground. 'When the sequence switch 400 reaches position 15', a directcircuit is closed from contact 414 (position 15) to the relay 403, and from thence, as in the circuit just traced, to ground at the back conta'ct of relay 204. The relay 203 will not operate at this time, owing to thev fact that it is short-circuited at the -back contact and armature of relay 204. When relay 403 operates, it connects at its lower armature and front contact a source of alternating current to one side of the line, and

Aat its upper armature and frontcontact connects ground to the vother side of the line. The path of the ringing current for signaling the subscriber may now be traced as follows. remembering that sequence switch 200 has been stopped in position 12, the call being to a direct line and not to a party line; from the source of alternating current 223, through the letshand winding of ringing relay 204, through contact 224 (position 12), front contact and lower armature of relay 403, contact 415 (position 15), brush 221, terminal 220, contact 310 (position 16), brush 311 and terminal 312 of the desired line, through the ringer of the desired line, back over the'other side of the line to terminal 313 individual thereto, contact 304 (position 16), terminal 218, brush 219, contact 416 (position 15), front contact and upper armature of relay 403, contact 225 (position 12), to ground. The ringing current passing over the circuit just traced, although it includes the winding of relay 204, is not suiiicient to operate such relay. When the subscriber answers and removes his receiver from the hook, a low resistance path for the ringing current is closed over the circuit just traced, wherepon the relay 204 responds. Relay 204, in operating, removes the short vcircuit from relay 203, which permits the relay 203 to energize. A locking circuit is now closed for relay 203, from contact 414 (position 15), through the armature and front Contact of relay ,203, through the relay 203 to ground. Relay 403 is' thereby short-circuited and retracts its armatures. The release of relay 403 causes the opening of the ringing circuit and the closing of the talking circuit, and as the called subscriber has answered, the supervisory relay 404 will be operated. The operation of relay 404 closes a circuit for the 'supervisory relay 103 at the operators position from battery, through the lower right-hand winding of the repeating coil 118, relay 103, contact 117 (position 16), brush 111, terminal 114, contact 406 (position 16), ower left-hand winding of repeating coil 413, retardation coil 417, armature and front contact of relay 404, to ground. Relay 103 in energizing, eXt-inguishes the supervisory lamp which was lighted in position 16 of the sequence switch 100 over a circuit estabn lished at contact 119.

r1`he connection is now established and conversation may now take place. As the present invention is chieiy.. concerned with the signaling of the desired line, the restoration of the switches and apparatus used in establishing the connection upon disconnect will notbe described in detail, as this takes place in the well-known manner.

Assuming now that'the desired lineis a station on a party line: Therefore, when the operator ascertains the number from a calling subscriber in order to signal the party line on the particular line required, a particular kind of current, which is necessary for this purpose, will be automatically .placed upon the line after the connection hasv been established due to the operation of one of the keys 161 to 164. It will be assumed that the key 163 has been operated.

When the connector has reached the terminal of the desired line, the sequence switch 300 is -in position 16, sequence switch 200 in position 11, sequence switch 400 in position 1 and sequence switch 150 in position 12. In these positions, as in the former case, a fundamental circuit is established, which may be traced from battery. relay 402, contact 405 (position 1), contact 206 (position 11), terminal 113, brush 110, contact 116 position 11), left-hand armature and back contact of relay O, relay 151, contact 153 (position 12), contact 117 (position 11), brush 111, terminal 114, contact 406 (position 1), to

i ground. Relays 402 and 151 energize over this circuit. ln response to the energization of relay 402, a circuit is established from battery, through the motor magnet of sequence switch 200, Contact 207 (position 11), contact 407 (position 1), outer armature and front contact of relay 402, to ground. An alternative energizing circuit for the relay 402 is also closed from battery, relayY 402, contact 405 (position 1), inner armature and iront contact o1 relay 402, contact 410 (position l), to the tip side of the line, and through the fundamental circuit just traced back to ground at contact 40.6 (position l). ln response to the energization of relay 151, a circuit is established for the No. 3 counting relay from battery, through the No. 3 counting relay, back contact of the No. 3 counting relay and armature thereof, operated key 163, contact 154 (position 12), armature and iront contact of relay 151 to ground. '.lhe No. 3 counting relay is thereupon energized. As the sequence switch 200, which lwas started trom position 11, passes through its intermediate or half positions, a ground is connected to one side of the fundamental circuit at Contact 206, shunting therelay 151. At rst shunting or the relay 151, when the sequence position 200 is passing through position 111-, the No. 3 counting 'relay will be energized in series with the lilo. 3 relay and through sequence switch spring 155 in position 12, Similarly, when the sequence switch 200 is passing through position 1225, the No. 2 and No. 2 counting relays will be energized, and when passing through position 131,1, the'No. 1 and No. 1 counting relays will be ener `zed, and tinally, when passing through position 149i, thello. 0 and 0 counting relays will be energized. When the counting relay 0 energizes, it opens at its lett contact the fundamental circuit. thus causing the dencrfrization of the relays 402 and 151. The deinerfrization of the relay 402 opens the f-ircuit tor the motor magnet of sequence 'wtc` 200A and the sequence switch will l'ton in position 15.

Also due to the denergization ofirelay 402. a circuit is established from battery, motor magnet ot' sequence switch 400. contact 411 (position 1). contact 210 (position 15)..con'tact 409 (position 1), right-hand armature and back contact oi relay 402 to ground. whereupon sequence switch 400 moves from position 1 to 2.

1When the 0 relay operated. it closed. at it" right armature and front contact, a circut from battery, motor magnet of sefuience switch 150. sequence switch 152 in nosition l2. armature and front Contact ot the 0 relay. whereupon sequence switch 150 mores trom position 12 back to normal. ln passing position 13. a circuit is closed from the battery, through motor magnet of sequence switch 100, contact 108 (position 11),

Lasarte contact 156 (position 13), to ground, whereupon the sequence switch 100 moyes to position 16. 1n position 16 of the sequence switch 100 and in position 2 of sequence 400, a circuit is established from battery, through Contact 412 (position 2), relay 401, upper left-hand winding of repeating coil 413, terminal 113, brush 110, contact 116 (position 16), upper right-hand winding ot' repeating coil 118 to ground. r1`he energization of the relay 401 establishes a circuit from battery, through the motor magnet of sequence switch 400, contact 411 (position 2), armature and front contact of relay 401 to ground, whereupon sequence switch 400 moves trom position 2 to position 15. When sequence spring 400 reaches position 15, a circuit is established from battery, contact 414 (position 15), relay 403, armature and back contact of relay 203, armature and back contact oi relay 204, to ground. Relay 403 is energized and as the sequence switch 200 has been set in position 15, ringing current of the character required to signal the desired party to which connection has been made is impressed on the line over a circuit established from the positive signaling currentat commutator 226, contact 227 (position. 1.5), upper armature and back Contact ot relay 403. contact 416 (position 15).,brush 210, terminal 218, contact 304 (position 16), brush 314, terminal 313 of the line towhich ,connection has been made, through the ringer of the desired party on the party line, back through the other side of the line to terminal 312, brush 311. contact 310 @position 16). terminal 220. brush 221, contact 415 (position 15), lower armature and contact of relay 403. contact 224 (position 15), through relay 204 to ground. rl`hus positive signaling current is placed upon one side of .the line and ground upon the other, which is the character of current necessary to signal the desired line upon the party line. When the party responds. the resistance of the circuit justtraced will be suciently decreased to permit the operation of relay 204. Relay 204 opens the energizing circuit for relay 402 and removes the short circuit about relay 203 so that relay 203 will be operated. When relay 203 operates. an alternative circuit is closed therefor from battery. contact 414 (position 15), armature and front contact of relay 203 ro ground. Due to the energization of relay 203. the relay 403 is short-circuited and releases its armatures. The relay 403 upon deenergizing opens the ringing circuit and closes the talking circuit. Connection is now established 'and conversation may take place.

lt will be noted that the seouence switch 200 stops in either of positions 12. 13. 14, 15 or 16 depending upon which of the keys 160 to 164 is depressed. lt the sequence switch 200 stops in position 12, current of a suitable character to signal a direct line will be impressed upon the ringing circuit, and if the sequence switch stops in either of positions 13 to 16, current of a suitable character to signal one of four parties upon a party -line will -be impressed upon the ringing circuit. Therefore, the sequence switch 200, in addition to controlling the group selector in establishing the connection, also operates as a ringing current selector.

What is claimed is:

1. In a signaling system for telephone exchange systems, trunk selecting switches and a connector switch adapted to be employed in establishing a connection, party lines terminating at such connector switch in a single set-of contacts, and a selecting device at a trunk selecting switch used in establishing' connection for selecting signaling current of the character required to selectively signal parties 0n such party line.

2. In a signaling system for telephone eX- change systems, trunk selecting and connector switches adapted to be employed in establishing a connection, 'party lines appearing in such connector switches as a single set of terminals, an automatic switch at one of said trunk selecting switches adapted to be set in one of a plurality of positions, and means controlled by the setposition of said switch for selectively signaling a party on a party line.

3. In a signaling system for telephone systems, selector and connector switches adaptedto be employed in establishing a connection, direct and party lines appearing in sets 'of terminals in said connector switches, an automatic multi-position switch associated with the selector switch adapted to control the operation of said selector switch in establishingthe connection, sources of signaling current of different character, and means controlled by said multi-position switch for selecting and controlling the connection to the terminals of such party line in a connector switch of a source of signaling current of the character required to signal a particular party on such party line.

4. In a signaling system for telephone exchange systems, selector and connector switches employed in establishing a connection, 'direct and party lines appearing in said connector switch, and a sequence switch adapted to control in certain positions a switch employed in establishing the connection and insubsequent positions the selection of signaling current of the required character to signal either a direct line or a party on a party line.

5. In a signaling system for telephone exf change systems, selector and connector switches employed in establishing a connection, direct and party lines appearing at such connector swltches, and a single automatic switch associated vwith a selector switch for controlling said selector switch and. for selecting current of the proper character required to signal either a direct line or any party on a party line.

6. In a signaling system for telephone'exchange systems, selector and connector switches employed in establishing a connection, party lines appearing in such connector switches, a sequence switch adapted to control one of said selector switches during the establishment of the connection and to also select signaling current of the character required to signal one of a plurality of parties on a party line, and a second sequence switch controlled from said first sequence switch adapted to control the connection of the selective signaling current to the line to be signaled.

7. In automatic telephone system, a sending device, a multiposition automatic switch adapted to be started in motion, a plurality of contact springs adapted to be operated in successlon in successive positions of such switch each of such springs being adapted to close a circuit, an extra ALBEN E. LUNDELL. 

